this is "world news." tonight, whiteout. the monster winter storm across more than a dozen states now. blizzard warnings and twisters. tonight, our extreme weather team out in the storm. and now the ripple effect being felt coast to coast. even the pilots apologizing. >> i have no words to tell you how sorry i am. >> sam champion, right here with the latest storm tram. heading home. as we near that fiscal cliff, will there be a deal? also tonight, an abc news exclusive. barbara walters at the white house. asking michelle obama if she'll run for office next. and a personal question, too. >> how do you keep the fire going? >> hmm. that's a good question. made in america. the great christmas challenge. >> i know, i know your show.

>> she knew, and so did thousands of others. tonight, the big reveal. the videos you sent in, the made in america gifts you put under the tree. and the ones that didn't fit. >> merry christmas, david! >> how you're creating joy and jobs this christmas. and caught on tape. the adorable pet dog stolen, about to be sold. you won't believe what happened next and what we witnessed today. good evening on this wednesday night. and we hope you had a merry christmas. diane has a few more nights with her family, and what a night to stay indoors. across much of this country tonight, a massive winter storm and already, the ripple effect being felt coast to coast. the monster storm system stretching from indiana to maine, all the way to north carolina. more than a dozen states under

winter watches and warnings this evening. and this is moving fast. nearly a foot of snow in some states already. a foot of snow forecast for syracuse, new york. and in the heartland tonight, the threat of more twisters. close to three dozen reported or the nay domes on christmas. this evening, they're bracing for more. our extreme weather team is across the storm zone tonight. you can see sam champion there, he has the latest track in a moment. but we're going to begin with abc's alex perez in indianapolis. >> reporter: strong winds whipped around fast-falling snow in indianapolis and made getting around by foot or car nearly impossible. david mathis struggled just to keep up with the shoveling. you saw no snow and then within a couple of hours, what did you see? >> yeah, just basically whiteout conditions. you couldn't hardly see outside. >> reporter: the massive storm leading to blizzard warnings in at least eight states. 30-mile-per-hour wind gusts in parts of indiana and ohio. slippery roads and poor visibility across the heartland, blamed for the deaths of at least six people.

in tulsa, oklahoma, icy roads forced some frustrated drivers to follow a plow truck, just to have a clear path. in little rock, freezing temperatures snapped power lines, leaving many in the dark. >> my friend is out of electricity and heat. i come to get a propane exchange. the lights went out before i could get out. >> reporter: back in indianapolis, spinout after spinout. stranded motorists could not compete with the storm. you guys have been trying to get out? >> yes. we tried to get out of the parking lot. we're spinning in circles. >> reporter: and the wrath of this storm is not over just yet. the snow has ended here, but the next big wave of bad weather is already slamming the northeast. david? >> all right, alex, thank you. and as you mentioned, it is moving quickly. i want to bring in abc's sam champion. great to see you, sam. and you were telling us in the news room this afternoon, this is all one massive system? >> reporter: one big system we've been talking about since the weekend, david. all that snow in the middle of the country, up to 17 inches in illinois. tornadoes, 25 confirmed from last night's episode.

and then this. this, we started coastal areas with a little bit of snow, then we want to sleet. now we've got some rain with ice mixed in. if you are in coastal areas, road sure faces will stay wet. inland, you're going to get inches and inches of snow. look at the snow graphic as we work this storm system. it was that one big storm that now will hand itself off to a nor'easter shape. then will it move in. look at that icing that's involved. that is one of the scary parts of this system. plenty of areas that will get icing and snow. the snowfall totals will be measured in inches. and it's a very big deal. david, places like cyril kus, and i know you just left yesterday, haven't had a foot of snow in one event in probably two years. they're going to get more than a foot of snow out of this event and there's a lot of places in new england that will. >> i got out just in time, but the family is still there. and much of this country facing a lot of rain tonight. >> reporter: this thing about this storm is the coastal sections will get some heavy rain. already, some flood watches and warnings are up, as well. in the places that don't have

winter storm watches and warning. we are expecting up to two inches of rain. this is heavy. so, this storm will also have some very strong winds. so, expect this rain to be wind-driven rain and also the snow to be wind-driven snow. this is a big powerful system, still through the day tomorrow, david. >> all right, sam, we'll be watching your latest forecast first thing in the morning on "gma." and that ripple effect being health from one end of the country to the other. delays for others on the runways, and look at this. already, more than 1,300 flights canceled. this evening, one pilot apologizes for something he couldn't control. here's abc's lisa stark now. >> reporter: for tens of thousands of travelers scrambling to get home, any holiday cheer is gone. frustration even boiling over in the cockpit. one american airlines pilot talking to his passengers, was clearly fed up, after nearly five hours on board, waiting to take off. >> it's beyond reproach. i have no -- no words to tell you how sorry i am for all of

this. decisions are being made way above our heads by people that obviously, in my humble opinion, don't have a clue what they're doing. >> reporter: lots of delays here, as you can see. and our bill we're tweeted from his struck light at laguardia, toilet clogged. mutiny imminent. resorted to tweeting our angst to delta. passengers will need a lot of patience. already, 100 flights canceled for tomorrow. and more expected. david? >> our bill weir, a parent with patience. lisa stark, thank you. and the weather causing fear to the south, as well tonight. we told you about the twisters, this evening, just as so many families try to clean up, we got reports of a or the nato touching down near the outer banks. abc's matt gutman is in alabama tonight. >> reporter: the giant tornado carving destruction into the

heart of this city. >> christmas day tornado, going through mobile. that's like two tornadoes. >> reporter: this ef-1 twister, with winds up to 110 miles per hour, exploding into this church, snatching trees and mangling mansions. over 150,000 homes still without power. neighbors joining work crews, offering a shoulder and a hand. tessie and russell johnson held on tight to each other as the twister roared through. it lasted for just a short time? >> yeah, about 30 seconds. that's all it took. >> we were saying i love you a lot. >> yeah. >> reporter: this family also lucky to be alive. ashley and rick, a football coach at this high school, had family over for christmas. suddenly, the skies darkened. s took everybody along with you? >> they thought i was crazy. >> reporter: fleeing into the school's field house. not the christmas you anticipated? >> you kind of forgot it was christmas for awhile. >> reporter: and when that family finally emerged from that

shelter just over there, this is what they saw. six class rooms e vice rated. perhaps this tornado left behind one christmas gift. no deaths. >> that is the good part of the story. matt gutman, thank you. we're going to move on this evening and head out west to a kind of extraordinary sight. one week after we explored solutions to the gun violence in this country, tonight, look at this. lines of cars, some stretching for blocks, people with guns turning them in for something in exchange. abc's abbie boudreau is there tonight. >> reporter: good evening, david. the city of los angeles is holding a gun by-back program. they've been doing this for the last few weyears, but it's even more significant this year. now, take a look all around me. there are hundreds of cars, just lining up. people wanting to sell back their guns. the cars are stretched around the block. now, if they turn in a handgun, a rifle or a shotgun, they get $100 gift card. if they turn in an assault

weap weapon, an extra $100. and david, the purpose of this is to get guns off the streets. and dave, most of the weapons here will be destroyed. david? >> lines as far as the eye can see. thank you. and in washington tonight, president obama is cutting his christmas vacation short to try to cut a deal as that fiscal cliff nears. now just six days until higher taxes for all americans. and tonight, a white house official is placing the burden of not getting a deal on leaders of congress. one official saying the hits from our economy are not coming from outside factors, they're coming from congressional stupidity. some members of congress do return tomorrow. these comments come just as barbara walters prepares for her "nightline" special tonight. her sitdown at the white house with the president and the first lady. tonight here, some rare personal questions answered about their own relationship and their girls. one of whom just got her first cell phone. >> reporter: i want to talk a bit about the girls. we have been rawatching them gr up from little girls to young ladies.

now, malia recently got her first cell phone. do you monitor it? and see who she calls or who she texts? >> i give my daughter at this age, i give her a long rope. you know, and there is monitoring, because we have rules, but monitoring may be, you never know when i'm going to walk in your room and i'm going to definitely ask you, who are you talking to, are you talking about school work? >> and they're not very good at lying. we joke sometimes about how, you know, malia is getting to the age now, boys start calling and -- >> reporter: ah, yes. >> i always talk about how one of the main incentives for running again was continuing secret service protection. >> reporter: mr. president, mrs. obama, there is a photograph of you that went viral, became the most shared photograph in the history of twitter. how do you keep the fire going? >> hmm. that's a good question. >> you know, we've been married now 20 years.

and like every marriage, i think you have your ups and you have your downs, but if you work through the tough times, the respect and love that you feel deepens. >> reporter: you know, mrs mrs. obama, you told me at one point that you would never run for political office. you said that you don't have the patience for political life. patience for what? >> i have learned from my husband, watching him, that it does require a great deal of patience. to really feel the full impact of the work that you do on the ground. it doesn't happen right away. >> and she has a bigger difficulty biting her tongue. >> reporter: oh. >> i think i've done pretty well at that. >> not bad. >> i have opinions. >> she's got a few views. >> you know a little something about views. >> reporter: yes. something about views. yes, yes i do. >> sharing their views with the captain of "the view."

and you can see much more on a special holiday edition of "nightline," christmas at the white house, with barbara walters. we're going to move on now this evening to a former president whose health we're following closely here. george h.w. bush's doctors say his fever is getting worse. his family moments ago say he is in guarded condition tonight. he's now 88. we are told he's awake, aware and cracking jokes with his medical team. and in south africa tonight, former president nelson mandela is out of the hospital this evening and back home, where he will continue to receive m.edicl care. he hate been hospitalized for someone than two weeks. back here at home this evening, look at this behind me. so many viewers sending in their one thing made in america they bought for christmas. tonight, the videos are pouring in. the made in america surprises after they were unwrapped urn the tree. the joy and the joys you helped create tonight. >> what would you like for christmas? >> reporter: it was the question that got us thinking from the start and much of america, too. where was this made? >> china.

i know, i know, i know your show. >> reporter: thousands of you know the question and are now asking it yourselves. just one thing made in america. neighborhoods coast to coast. >> what's going on here? >> reporter: one gift, $64, hundreds of thousands of american jobs. you know the drill. remember the fire house? >> are you in? >> we're in! >> reporter: the town hall? >> you belt we're in. >> reporter: this vermont school, among the first. >> made in america! >> reporter: then, that classroom in peachtree, georgia. >> david muir, if you are ever in atlanta -- >> reporter: and now spreading to this seventh grade class in north carolina. >> we're in! >> reporter: and tonight, just look at what was unwrapped under trees across america. this mom, buying ornaments from you a gus wendell in pennsylvania. and something else key -- >> i found a santa claw key, because we do not have a chimney and my kids wanted santa to have a special way to get in. >> reporter: connor asking, who said all socks are made in china. >> my mom got me a pair of nike

socks that were made right here in america. >> reporter: and this mom, kim, from nevada, on her billy bicycle, made in dallas. >> where was it made? >> in america! >> reporter: there was emily who told us about dad and sister. >> i got my sister a dress, the one i'm wearing. >> reporter: she didn't forget about mom. a travel steamer, made in america. >> let's see how it works. >> hi, david! >> reporter: and from pennsylvania tonight, julianna, just six years old. >> this is my american made easel. >> where were your toys made? >> in america. >> reporter: so many families sending us their christmas view e videos. and so many familiar faces who were in this year, the women of "the view." >> made in the usa! that's right, baby. >> reporter: even from make believe neighborhoods. the neighborhoods. >> hey, "world news," it's jamie from "the neighbors." i'm in. >> john from "shark tank." >> hey, david, i'm laurie.

>> reporter: laurie, too. reading her glasses right there on a magnet. >> barbara here in my kitchen. >> reporter: and barbara, fishing for an idea. >> a lobster dinner for two from cousins maine lobster. >> reporter: that's right, lobsters. cousins maine lobsters. $64 for two. and she kept going. remember that mom cooking up an american dream? >> oh, i get a hug! >> reporter: those daisy cakes from south carolina. the sharks bought her idea and guess what barbara bought for her friends on christmas? >> i'm going to give them a daisy cake. >> reporter: so many viewers filling santa's sleigh, or this wife, filling her brand new ford truck. with gifts made in america. >> merry christmas, david! >> she surprised her husband with that new ford pickup. tomorrow night here, the jobs you helped create. viewers responding to so many reports here. and we're going to go inside the american factories big and small. they have two worlds for all of you -- thank you. and that's tomorrow night. there is still much more ahead on "world news" this wednesday evening, though. if you are taking anything back, you'll want to see this.

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over, but retailers aren't giving up so easy. today, we watched fresh sale signs going up, as stores took their most important season into overtime. $400 coat down to -- >> 60%. $148. >> reporter: you paid $148 for a $400 coat? >> yeah. >> reporter: retailers are desperate for holiday shopping to keep on going, after a bleak few weeks. holiday sales rose an underwhelming .7% from last year. the slowest growth since 2008. >> key areas were the northeast and mid-atlantic. really the impact zone of hurricane sandy. that's where we saw the weakest growth for the year. >> reporter: today, the season of giving looked a lot more like the season of giving back. >> i got a jacket from my girlfriend that was just slightly too big. so, i returned it and actually got $71 back and the size i wanted. >> reporter: about 10% of all gifts are headed straight back to the store. electronics can be some of the toughest. often with only a 15-day return window.

many other items can go back 30 or even 90 days later. though analysts warn that many now require an i.d. between now and new year's, there are amazing deals out there. we found a 50-inch tv for just $399.$500 off. and still at many, many retailers, discounts ranging from 50% to 70% off. still great deals out there, david. >> neal, thank you. and when we come back here tonight, what forced some families to actually talk this christmas. to the best va spot on earth. (all) the gulf! it doesn't matter which of our great states folks visit. mississippi, alabama, louisiana or florida, they're gonna love it. shaul, your alabama hospitality is incredible. thanks, karen. love your mississippi outdoors. i vote for your florida beaches, dawn. bill, this louisiana seafood is delicious. we're having such a great year on the gulf, we've decided to put aside our rivalry.

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and now to our "instant index" here on a wednesday night. and to what might have seemed like coal for some netflix subscribers this christmas. quote of the day here. panic spreading across america as netflix faces outage. families forced to talk to one another. that was the tweet that summed up with tens of millions of subscribers felt after the servers went down for nearly 20 hours on the holiday. 1428 miles and 186 miles per hour. that's how fast and how far the world's longest fastest train now goes. it debuts today in china, cutting a nearly 1,500 mile trip from 22 hours to just eight. and to this video in our "instant index" tonight. the pure joy of christmas gift giving and receiving, caught on camera. 7-year-old reese of new jersey, so happy over his video game, he cries. >> i'm so happy! >> you're so happy? >> a child's joy on christmas.

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forever. here's abc's ron claiborne. >> reporter: this is a story about a little girl named mia. a little dog named marley. and a real life grinch? >> somebody swiped a 7-year-old girl's dog. >> reporter: twas the morning before christmas and it was all captured on video, right outside the store where mia and her mom were shopping. >> we didn't know if we would ever seem him. >> reporter: mia was devastated. >> he's so adorable. i can't even trim my tree without him. it's so hard to be without him. >> reporter: miles away, on christmas day, a schoolteacher named tina cohen was walking through a park and noticed a man selling a dog. >> they don't look right together. it wasn't right to be selling a dog on christmas and i had a gut feeling this was not his dog. >> reporter: so, she bought the dog for $220 and took him straight to a vet. who checked him out and found his identification microchip. >> we got a phone call and he said -- he said, we have your

dog. we have marley. and we screamed up and down. we had marley. >> reporter: what were you thinking then? >> jumping up and down. >> reporter: just like that? two hours later, little girl and little dog reunited. it's a miracle? >> yes, a christmas miracle. >> reporter: as for the alleged grinch, police arrested brandon bacon in the park where he allegedly sold marley. while the little girl, her mom, her little dog and the nice lady who saved him, they all had a very merry christmas. ron claiborne, abc news, new york. >> little marley, back with mia. that's the broadcast. for diane and all of us here, good night.